In a meeting with the Enquirer editorial board, Aftab Pureval is asked how he would grade how President Trump has done the past two years in office.
Cara Owsley, cowsley@enquirer.com

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Hamilton County Clerk of Courts Aftab Pureval, is the Democratic candidate for the U.S. House to represent the 1st Congressional District of Ohio speaks with the Cincinnati Enquirer editorial board Tuesday October 9, 2018.(Photo: Cara Owsley/The Enquirer)Buy Photo

COLUMBUS - Attorneys for Democratic congressional candidate Aftab Pureval filed a complaint Monday, asking a state court to stop the Ohio Elections Commission from proceeding on the complaint against him.

Anti-tax activist Mark Miller filed a complaint with the Ohio Elections Commission against Pureval, saying the Democrat was using money from his county clerk of courts campaign account to pay for federal campaign expenses such as polling and photography.

Pureval is hoping to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Steve Chabot this fall.

The Ohio Elections Commission dismissed some of the complaint last week, saying Pureval did not violate state election laws in how he collected money. The panel decided to proceed with concerns that the money was spent improperly and set a hearing for Nov. 1 -- five days before Election Day.

Attorney Don McTigue argued similar points during last week's proceedings: Miller didn't have "personal knowledge" of any campaign violations and the Federal Election Commission should consider the complaint first.

“This is a desperate attempt to keep the public from knowing and understanding how Aftab Pureval violated campaign finance law," said Brian Shrive, Miller's attorney.

A spokesman for the Ohio Attorney General's Office, which represents the Ohio Elections Commission, said outside counsel had been assigned for this case. Attorney General Mike DeWine is a Republican running for governor this fall.